Coil threading mechanism



Aug 16, 1966 c. M. WHG 3,266,280

COIL THREADING MECHANISM Flled Dec. 19. 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16, 1966 c. M. WHG

COIL THREADING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flled Dec. 19, 1963 Aug. 16, 1966 c. M. WHG

COIL THREADING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F1 led Dec. 19, 1963 @Uefa/i771 A @@ef Aug. 16, 1966 c. M. WHG

COIL THREADING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 19, 1963 CMS.

C. M. WHG

Aug. 16, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Deo. 19, 1965 Aug. 16, 1966 c. M. WHG

COIL THREADING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed DeO. 19, 1965 United States Patent O Filed Dec. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 331,707 Claims. (Ci. 72-134) The invention relates generally to uncoiling mechanism and has reference in particular to uncoiling and threading mechanism for uncoiling relatively heavy coils of stock material and for directing the leading end of the uncoiled material to a straightening and feeding machine.

An object of the invention is to provide uncoiling mechanism which will employ a hold down and power carriage, and a stripping finger, the power carriage having operation when in Contact with the periphery of the coil for rotating the coil, and the stripping finger having operation for engaging and directing the leading end of the uncoiled material to a machine for straightening the material and for Ifeeding the same to other machines for subsequent operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide uncoiling mechanism which will provide a hold down and power carriage for rotating a coil of metal stock and which will have releasable contact with the outer periphery of the coil to cause the coil to rotate as the result of frictional engagement of the wheels of the carriage with the coil, the carriage having its own independent power source and which is :carried thereby in fa Imanner :to form part of the carriage structure.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of uncoiling mechanism of the character described which will employ a hold down and power carriage and a stripping finger, and wherein both said devices are pivotally supported and power oscillated so as to have an operative and an inoperative position with respect to the coil of metal stock which is being uncoiled.

Another object is to provide uncoiling mechanism wherein the pivotal supporting structure for the hold down and power carriage will support a power actuated back breaker for bending the leading end of the uncoiled material so as to facilitate the directing of the same between the initial rolls of the straightening and feeding mechanism.

A further object is to provide uncoiling mechanism wherein the coil will be rotated by a hold down and power carriage, and wherein the double cone reel which supports the coil will also be rotated but at a slower speed so that the convolutions of the coil will be maintained in a tightly coiled condition rather than unwound as would otherwise be the case.

With these and various other objects in View the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the coil threading mechanism of the invention, the same being illustrated in eombintion with a double cone reel and with a ICC straightening and feeding machine, the power carriage stripping finger and apron being located in inoperative positions;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE l but showing the carriage, stripping fingers and apron in operative positions for an uncoiling action;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational View similar to FIG- URES l and 2 but additionally showing the action of the back breaker during the uncoiling operation;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View taken substantially along line 4-4 of the uncoiling apparatus as shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the apron and stripping nger including the supporting structure for the same, the parts being shown in the position of FIGURE 2 looking toward the left; and

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the double cone reel for supporting the coil for rotation, with parts in section to show the driving means for the coil supporting cone.

The coil of metal stock such as 10, FIGURES l, 2 and 3, and which is to be uncoiled by the apparatus of the invention, is suitably supported for rotation by the coil supporting cones 11 and 12, FIGURE 6, of the double cone reel indicated in its entirety by the numeral 13. The mechanism of the invention directs the leading end 9 of the uncoiling stock material to the initial feeding rolls 14 and 15 of a straightening and feeding machine 16. The base 17 of the machine 1-6 and the side frames 18 thereof which journal the rolls such as 14 and 15, provide upright supports 20 for pivotally supporting the arms 21 and 22. Said arms although spaced at their pivot end converge inwardly and unite to provide the single supporting arm 23 for supporting the holddown and power carriage 24. The sections 25 and 26 of the apron are also pivotally supported from the upright supports 20 in a manner to be presently described.

`Considering first of all the supporting structure for the power carriage 24, it will be observed from FIGURE 4 that the arms 21 and 22 comprise an integral part of the hollow shaft 27, which extends between the upright supports 20. The hollow shaft 27 is journalled by the upright supports 20 by means of the pivot members 28. Reinforcing rods 30 are provided for the arms 21 and 22, the said rods each having a tixed connection at one end to the hollow shaft 27 and at its opposite end to its respective arm. It has been found desirable to prevent the leading edge of the stock material from being directed or deflected upwardly, rather than into the bite of the rolls 14 and 15. Accordingly, the hollow shaft 27 is provided with journalling extensions 31 at respective ends for journalling the rol-ler 32 by means of the rod 33.

The arms 21 and 22, and thus the single carrying arm 23 for the power carriage 24 are oscillated by the power cylinders 34, each cylinder being pivotally mounted at 35 in a support 36 having a fixed relation on an upright support 20. Each arm 21 and 22 provide a pair of upstanding flanges such as 37 and 38, the fiange 37 being located inwardly and the flange 38 being located outwardly of its respective arm. A pivot pin 40 is mounted by each pair of flanges and each pivot pin provides a connection for the piston rod 41 of its respective power cylinder 34. When a fluid medium under pressure is Vadmitted by the conduits 42 with conduits 43 being open for exhaust, the power cylinders are actuated to retract the piston 4rods 41, and as a result the arm 23 is elevated to locate the holddown and power carriage 24 in `a lifted inoperative position as shown in FIGURE l. When the pressure medium is admitted by the conduits 43, with 42 being open to exhaust, the piston rods 41 are projected outwardly, thus lowering the arm 23 and the power carriage 24 so that the wheels of the carriage will engage the periphery of the coil 10, all in the manner as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The holddown and power carriage 24 is pivotally carried by the arm 23 and in a manner whereby the front and rear wheels 44 and 45, respectively, will freely and frictionally contact the coil. The pivot shaft 46 connects the arm 23 to the side frames 47 of the carriage. At the front end the side frames are joined by the shaft 48 which journal the front wheels 44. At the rear, each side frame carries a stud shaft 50 on which the wheels 45 are journalled. Driving chains such as 51 are employed on respective sides of the carriage for operatively connecting the power sprocket 52 with the front and Vrear wheels. The said power sprocket is provided by the gear reducing mechanism 53, and it will be understood that the said mechanism is suitably driven by the air motor 54 of the turbine type, and having inlet and outlet conduits collectively designated 55. A turbine type motor is preferred as the power source for the power carriage, since the drive to the coil contemplates that considerable slippage will take place. However, even though slippage must be provided for, the drive from the wheels of the carriage to the coil must be sufficiently positive to maintain a rotative action on the coil in excess of that imparted by the motor drive through the coil supporting cones 11 and 12. A-n air motor of the turbine type has been found to function in a highly satisfactory manner.

The apron for supporting the stock material as it unwinds from the coil is formed in two parts, the said parts having been previously designated by the numerals 25 and 26. Each section -has a shape in plan which is substantially triangular as best shown in FIGURE 4. The

'pivot end of each apron section is supported by the shaft 56, FIGURE 5, the said shaft extending between and being supported by the upright supports 20. At an intermediate location, each apron section has formed integral therewith a web 57 which provides means by which the apron lsection can be connected to a source of power. This is accomplished by pivotally joining the piston rod 60 of a power cylinder 61 to said web 57. A power cylinder is thus provided lfor each of the apron sections and each power cylinder is pivoted at 62 to the stationary support 63. In operation of the power cylinders, the conduits 64 and 65 will alternately admit and exhaust a pressure medium so as to extend and retract the piston -rod 60 and thus raise and lower the apron sections in unison.

In FIGURE 2 the apron sections 25 and 26 have been elevated by the power cylinders 61 and the stripping finger 66 has also been rendered operative for contact with the leading edge of the coiled material 9. The stripping linger lis pivoted at 67 to the fixed support 63 and said linger is 'adapted to oscillate in the space between the apron sections 25 and 26 to and from an inoperative position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, and an operative position as shown in FIGURE 2. A power cylinder 68 is provided for so oscillating the stripping finger 66, the cylinder being pivotally connected at 70 to the yoke 71 fixed to support 63. The piston rod 72 of the power cylinder 68 is connected at 73 to the stripping finger. Oscillation of the finger is effected by employing the conduits 74 and 75 for alternately admitting and exhausting a pressure me- -dium to the cylinder.

The stripping finger 66 has an especially designed top end 76 which provides a notched formation 77 for stripping the leading end 9 from the coil and for contact therewith as illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the lea-ding end portion 9 has been stripped from the coil and is in contact with the notched formation 77, the stripping finger is then oscillated in a direction towards the left and the said leading end 9 of the stock material will be directed longitudinally of the apron section and towards the rollers 14 and 15. FIGURE 3 shows the position of the stripping finger at the end of the directing operation and immediately following release of the finger from the stock material. It has been found desirable at this point in the uncoiling operation to bend the leading end 9 in a direction reverse to that imparted to the material due to its coiled condition. For performing this function the invention provides a back breaker in the form of a roller 78. Said roller is carried by the spaced levers and which are pivotally connected at 81 to the arms 21 and 22, which in turn pivotally support the holddown and power carriage 24. Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the roller 78 is adapted to have oscillating movement from an inoperative position shown in FIGURE 2 to a back breaking position as shown in FIGURE 3. The power for oscillating the roller 78 is provided by the power cylinder 82 which is pivotally connected at 83 to the arms 21 and 22. The piston rod 84 of the cylinder is joined at 85 to the levers 80. At the proper time a fluid medium under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 82 by the conduit 86 to thus extend the piston rod 84. This action oscillates the roller 78 in a downward direction so that the same is caused to contact the leading end 9 of the stock material which is in contact at this instant in the uncoiling operation with the apron sections 25 and 26. The material unwinding from the coil 10 will naturally assume the upwardly coiled shape as shown in FIGURE 2. However, after operation of the back breaker as shown in FIGURE 3 a reverse bend is produced in the material and the leading edge thereof is more accurately `directed toward the bite of the feeding rollers 14 and 15. After the material has passed between the rollers 14 and 15, and is being fed thereby, the back breaker 78 can be retracted by reverse action of the power cylinder 82.

An additional control over the leading end portion 9 and over the remaining stock material as it uncoils is provided by the invention in the form of side guides and 91 shown in FIGURE 5. The guides are preferably located between the pivot end 56 of the apron sections 25 and 26, and the lower feed roller 15. Each guide is formed with a hub portion such as 92 and which is threaded to a shaft 93 journalled by the upright supports 20 and which has reversely threaded end sections. Thus When shaft 93 is rotated, the guides will move either inwardly toward eachother or outwardly away from each other. The reversely threade-d shaft 93 is mounted for rotation in the upright supports 20 and the left end of the shaft projects through the support at said end to receive the wheel 94 havinga crank handle 95. It is desirable to so adjust the guides 90 and 91 that stock material of different widths will be properly centered with respect to the feeding and straightening machine 16.

It has been previously explained that during the uncoiling operation the coil 10 must be rotated by the carriage 24 in order to maintain the coil in a wound condi-tion with tight convolutions. Should the motor drive to the coil supporting cones 11 and 12, FIGURE 6, take over the rotative action of the coil, the said coi-l would sta-rt to unwind from Within, which is hi-ghly objectionable for many reasons. However, it is desirable that the coil be driven by the supporting cones to an extent which will assist the motor carriage 24, since the latter has only frictional contact with the periphery of the coi-1 and requires some assistance for its best performance. The motor drive in FIGURE 6 is shown as applied to a double cone reel, previously identified as 13 and which includes supporting structures 96 and 97 which rest on a oor or the like, and which are adjustably connected by the threaded rod 98.

The gear reducing mechanism 100 is driven from any suitable source of power such as an elect-ric motor, not shown. The said gear reducing mechanism is operatively connected by means of the chain drive =1 with shaft 10'2 which is suitably journalled within the supporting `structure 96 and has fixed thereto the pinion 103. IF rom the pinion 103 the drive is transmitted to the gear 104, to the pinion l105, and finally to gear -106 on the journalled sha-ft 107 to which the cone 1-1 is fixed. Whereas the cone 11 is fixed to the right hand extending end of shaft 107, its left hand extending end is`provided with drum brake mechanism 108. Accordingly, by means of the gear reducing mechanism 100 and the brake mechanism 10S, the desired driving speed can be imparted to the driving cone 411 for any particular driving action Iof the power carriage 24.

After a coil 10 of metal stock has been `supported for rotation by the supporting cones 11 and 12, the arm 23 can be lowered to effect contact of the knurled wheels 44 and i45 'with the periphery of the coil. The air motor 54 is then rendered operative to cause the k-nur-led wheels to rotate and to lthus rotate the coil 110` due to the frictional contact between the wheels and the coil. The coil is additionally rotated by the drive to the cones 11 and 12 which, however, does not take over the rotative action imparted to the coil but merely assists the power carriage. With the coil now rotating, rthe stripping finger 66 can be rendered operative to cause the notched formation 77 to engage the coil periphery. Since the coil is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the leading end portion 9 will presently 'engage `the notched formation 77 of the stripping finger in la manner as shown in FIGURE 2, whereupon the stripping `finger is retracted so as to lead the portion 9 along the length ofthe ap-ron sections and toward the bite of the feed rolls 14 and 1'5. Reference is made fto rthe dotted line position of the leading portion 9 shown in FIGURE 2.

In order to facilitate the thread-ing of said leading portion of the stock material between the feed rolls 14 `and 15, it is desirable to produce a reverse bend in the material as shown in FIGURE 3. The reverse bending is accomplished by a back breaker in lthe form of a roller 78 which is caused to depend from the supporting arms 21 and 22. The roller in contacting the leading end of the stock material effects a Ibend in the `same "opposite to that naturally assumed by the material due to its coiled condition. During this operation yof the back breaker the material is supported by the apron sections 25 and 26 which have been loca-ted in elevated position for the uncoilin-g operation. Eventually the leading end 9 of the stock material will enter the bite between the feed rollers 14 and 15 whereupon t-he action of the feed rolls is to feed the material through the straightening and feeding machine. Since the threading operation has been completed the arm 23 together with the power `carriage `24 can now be located in the inoperative position as shown in FIGUR-E 1. Also, the apron sections can .be lowered to the pos-ition as shown in FIGURE tl and the uncoiling of the coil 10 will continue under the action and control of the straightening and feeding machine. i

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In uncoiling apparatus of the character described, the combination with supporting structure and a coi-l of metal stock material supported thereby and which is to be uncoiled, of a stripping finger pivotally supported :by said supporting structure and adapted to have an lope-rative position in contact with the coil for stripping the leading end of t-he material 4from the coil and for momentarily retaining con-tact therewith, a pair of spaced apron sections also pivotally supported by said supporting structure and having a substantially horizontal positon adjacent the coil for contact with the leading end `of the material so as lto support the same as it uncoils, said stripping finger having a location in the space between the apron sections, power means Ifor oscillating the stripping finger whereby the linger can be moved in the proper direction for directing the leading end of the material along the length of the apron sections as the material has contact with the sections, an arm pivoted to said supporting stnucture, a power carriage vcarried by the free end of the arm, power means associated with the supporting structure and with the arm for oscillating the arm, said power carriage having a pair of front journalled wheels and a pair of rear journalled wheels, and a power source carried by the power carriage for driving said wheels, whereby when the said wheels of the power carriage are caused to frictionally contact the coil the said coil is caused to rota-te.

2. In yuncoi'ling apparatus of the `character as described in claim 1, wherein the support for the coil of metal stock materia-l includes coil supporting cones having contact with the coil, and independent power means for rotating at least one of said cones.

3. In uncoiling apparatus of the character as described in claim 1, wherein the support for the coil of metal stock material includes coil supporting cones having contact with the coil, independent power means for rotating at least one of said cones, and additionally including a back breaker carried by the arm intermediate its length, said back breaker icnluding a roller pivotally connected to the arm, and additional power means carried by the arm for bodily oscillating the roller, whereby the roller can be caused to contact the leading end of the material while in contact with the apron sections and produce a. bend in the same opposite to that caused by the winding of t-he material on the coil.

4. In uncoiling apparatus of the character described, the combination with supporting structure including a straightening and feeding machine providing a pair of initial feeding rolls, a coil of metal stock material supported by the supporting structure and adapted to be uncoiled, an arm pivoted to the straightening and feeding machine, a power carriage pivotally carried by the free end of the arm and disposed over the coil, Isaid power carriage having a pair of front journalled wheels and a pair of rea-r journal-led wheels, a power source carried yby the power carriage and having operative connection with the front and rear journalled wheels, respectively, power means for oscillating the arm whereby the wheels of the power carriage can be caused to frictionally contact the coil, and a back breaker carried by the arm intermediate its length, said back breaker including a roller pivotally connected -to the arm, and additional power means carried by the arm for bodily oscillating the roller.

5. In uncoiling apparatus of the character described, the combination with supporting structure including a straightening and feeding machine providing a pair of initial feeding rolls, a coi-l of metal stock material supported by the supporting structure and adapted to be uncoiled, a pivotally mounted arm having its free end directed toward sand above the coil of metal stock, a power carriage carried by the lfree end of said arm, said power carriage having a pair of `front journalled wheels and a pair of rear journalled wheels, a power source carried -by the power carriage and having operative connection with the ifront and rear journalled wheels, respectively, power means for oscillating the Iarm whereby the wheels of the power carriage can be caused to frictionally contact the coi-l, a stripping finger pivotally supported by said supporting structure and having an operative position in contact with the coil `for stripping the leading end of the stock material from the coil and for momentarily retaining contact therewith, a pair of spaced apron sections piifotally supported by the straightening and feeding machine, said spaced apron sections being adapted to have a substantially horizontal position adjacent the coil -for contact with the leading end of the material so as to support -t-he same as it uncoi'ls, said stripping dinger having a `location in the space between the apron sections, and additional power means for oscillating t-he stripping finger, whereby the nger can be moved in the proper direction rfor directing the 'leading end of .the material along the length of the apron sections and towards the initial feeding rolls of the straightening and feeding machine.

References Cited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Wood 242-75.1 Wilson 242-788 Appleby 242-7 8.8 Ficht 242-788 X Billetter et al 242-78.8 Artman 242-783 10 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. STANLEY N. GILREATH, Examiner. W. S. BRUDEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN UNCOILING APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION WITH SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND A COIL OF METAL STOCK MATERIAL SUPPORTED THEREBY AND WHICH IS TO BE UNCOILED, OF A STRIPPING FINGER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND ADAPTED TO HAVE AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN CONTACT WITH THE COIL FOR STRIPPING THE LEADING END OF THE MATERIAL FROM THE COIL AND FOR MOMENTARILY RETAINING CONTACT THEREWITH, A PAIR OF SPACED APRON SECTIONS ALSO PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION ADJACENT THE COIL FOR CONTACT WITH THE LEADING END OF THE MATERIAL SO AS TO SUPPORT THE SAME AS IT UNCOILS, SAID STRIPPING FINGER HAVING A LOCATION IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE APRON SECTIONS, POWER MEANS FOR OSCILLATING THE STRIPPING FINGER WHEREBY THE FINGER CAN BE MOVED IN THE PROPER DIRECTION FOR DIRECTING THE LEADING END OF THE MATERIAL ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE APRON SECTIONS AS THE MATERIAL HAS CONTACT WITH THE SEC- 